2012 Advisory PanelGrid Solutions Program

John HerbstCenter for Electromechanics

The University of Texas at Austin12/4/2012

Presentation Overview

• Key research challenges, drivers, and goals• Technology relationships

– Electric Ship– Microgrid– Smart Grid– Energy Security

• Program Development• Summary

Research Motivation• US electric power system is rapidly evolving

– Aging power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure• New technologies changing the landscape

– Increased use of power electronics, telecommunications, sensors, and controls

• Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER)– Renewable resources: wind, solar, geothermal

• Vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure– Need for energy independence– Physical/cyber protection of utility grid

• New tools are needed to effectively manage this evolution– Global issue

Key Research Challenges

• Complex systems and simulation models– Understanding complex interdependent systems– Unconventional power equipment and architectures– Extended computation times limit model utility

• Access and processing of “real-world” data– Impact of renewables and electric vehicles– Needed to anchor analytical models

Key Research Drivers• Integration of renewables

– Dispatchability or local use of PV and wind resources– Understanding the impact on existing infrastructure

• e.g., transformer power flow, power factor

• Increased penetration of electric vehicles– Impact on peak demand

• Understanding the impact of energy storage– Need to define value proposition for stakeholders

• Critical for isolated grids• Connection to larger grid raises questions about value – other solutions available

– Need to define optimum location for storage• Home, community, substation, transmission

• Energy security– Ensuring energy supply with long-term disruptions to utility– Physical and cyber-security of critical infrastructure

Key Goals

• Reduction/elimination of dependence on fossil fuel energy supplies– Need for energy imports creates vulnerability– Reduction of greenhouse gases

• Enhanced efficiency and energy security through intelligent control and energy management– Land-based military and civilian installations– Remote installations (e.g., Hawaii, Alaska)– Naval vessels – Integrated Power Systems– Offshore and subsea oil and gas installations

Technology Relationships

CEM Grid SolutionsProgram

CEM Grid SolutionsProgram

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems

ALPS Locomotive PropulsionBUS Flywheel

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Advanced Power/Energy Technologies

High Speed Motors/GeneratorsEnergy Storage Flywheels

Advanced Power Conversion

Integrated Mobile Pulsed Power Systems

9 MJ Range Gun SystemCombat Hybrid Power Supply

Hybrid Energy Storage Module

Terrestrial MicrogridsMicrogrid LaboratoryFOB/TOC Modeling

DOD Base Modeling (ONR/29 Palms)

Smart GridsPecan Street ProjectDOD Energy Security

Model-based Control/Cybersecurity

CEMSolver

Offshore Platforms/FPSO Subsea Power DistributionNew Technology Application Thrust

UT Electric Ship

Program

CEM Grid SolutionsProgram

CEM Expertise

• Unique understanding of microgrid power system issues and technologies– Analytical expertise in power system modeling using tools

ubiquitous throughout industry/government• Enhancing these tools to enable faster/better modeling

– Extensive experience in physical implementation and operation of advanced power generation and conversion components and systems

• Overall capabilities give us unique insight and expertise on each fundamental step of the process

Concept Design Analysis Build Test

Electric Ship Research and Development Consortium (ESRDC)

• Consortium of eight universities conducting research into integrated electric power systems for future naval vessels– Two five-year grants with 1-year extension for FY13– Total annual funding ~$8.5M; UT share ~$1.6M

• Power system modeling and simulation• Technology development and demonstration• Multiple spin-off programs

– T-Craft technology evaluations– EVT permanent magnet motor testing– Swampworks architecture demonstrations

• Flexible, MW-scale microgrid– Configured for MVDC bus; HFAC

architectures also possible

• Multiple functionalities– Component and subsystem testing– System-level interactions– Controls development

10

HFAC Configuration

MVDC Configuration

UT Microgrid Laboratory

Swampworks Demonstrations

ESRDC Transformer480 : 800 V

480 VUtility Supply

SPCO ControlledRectifier

ALPSTransformer480 : 800 V

480 VUtility

Supply

ALPSPassiveRectifier

Toshiba VFD

ALPSMotorgen

Dyno

Kahn Dynamometer

0.5 MW

ALPSConverter

GE Reactors1 MVA

HVDCPowerSupply

CapacitorBank

DumpResistor1 MW

.

Existing equipment

Leased equipment

Field controllableengine drivenac generator

AC Load Bank1 MW

Field controllableengine drivenac generator

DC Bus1.1 kV

ALPSDC

Chopper

ALPS Load Bank

0.5 MW

800 VAC60 Hz

PropulsionPower Generation

Power Generation

Pulsed Weapon/Sensor

Hotel Loads

Pecan Street Inc.• DOE SmartGrid demonstration

program– Mixed used development at Mueller

neighborhood • Site of former Austin airport

– Multiple industrial sponsors– High penetration of EV’s and PV’s

• Modeling and simulation• Extremely valuable data on

residential and commercial power use– PV generation – EV charging profiles– Impact/location of energy storage

0 4 8 12 16 20 240

5

10

15x 10

5

Pow

er

Hours

3-phase Power

0 4 8 12 16 20 240

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Pow

er

Facto

r (P

F)

S (kVA)

P (kW)Q (kVars)

PF

0 4 8 12 16 20 240

5

10

15x 10

5

Pow

er

Hours

3-phase Power

0 4 8 12 16 20 240

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Pow

er

Facto

r (P

F)

S (kVA)

P (kW)Q (kVars)

PF

Energy Security• ONR program through UT Center for Energy Security

– Modeling of notional land-based naval installation– Leverages ship modeling and PSP data

• Developing M&S tools for base power systems– Improved efficiency during normal operation– Guide for incremental evolution of power system– Path to energy independence – “net zero” operation– Effective response to long-term disruption of utility supply

• Energy Security– Access to renewable/stored energy– Internal/external threats

• Cybersecurity– Model-based control validation

ONR Base Modeling

Notional Naval Base

29 Palms Energy Study

• Marine base near Mohave desert• Seeks to operate as microgrid • Nominal base load: 15 MW

• Grid power: 40%• On-site: 60% (5% PV / 55% Cogen Plant)

• Acquisitions for energy storage (1.2 MWh) and microgrid controls in progress

• Plan to grow PV plant from 1 to 10 MW• UT-CEM activities

• Building simulation model• Assessing stability under cloud transients• Working with MIT Lincoln Labs and GE Global

Research to develop engineering criteria

CEMSolver: Accelerating Simulations

• Complex simulations require excessive run times– Impacts technology development– Industry, government, and

academia face the same issues• Processor speeds are nearing

physical limits (Moore’s Law)– Moving from faster processors to

more processors – multicore computers and cluster supercomputers

• Partitioning of model is critical issue– Automation of partitioning process and

treatment of legacy models• CEMSolver is an external parallel solver

for Simulink

CEMSolver: Accelerating Simulations

• CEM’s Approach– Develop parallel solver that can

import Simulink models• Parallel solver exploits desktop

multicore technology– Speedups of 50x observed on large

power system models• Tool still in development

– Free distribution for ONR-sponsored entities

• Validations against Simulink results in progress– Accuracy difficult to gauge without

experimental data:which simulation is “right”?

• Better core utilization; better run time• Runs on Windows 7 desktop computers• Can import existing Simulink models• Users can still run models in Simulink

Grid Program Development Activities

• Negotiated Master Research Agreement with Oil & Gas Industry Partner– Two-year process with new technology development project (12/2012)– Trying to leverage prior power system studies into new activities

• Exploring collaborative proposals in cybersecurity arena with ARL:UT– Cyber Information Assurance and Decision Support Group (Dr. Cheryl Martin)

• Exploring collaborative proposals with Texas A&M and Extreme Power– Energy storage applications and testing

• Briefings and white paper proposals– Dr. Joseph Westphal, Undersecretary of the Army

• Land-based installation modeling

– ASD (OEPP) • Fort Hood/Fort Bliss critical infrastructure modeling

– Army Research Lab• FOB/TOC grid systems and technologies

• Identified two cost-share partners for new proposals in this area

New Program Development Activities 12-18 months

• Follow up with Richard Kidd– Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army

• Follow up with ASD (OEPP)– Assistant Secretary of Defense (Operational Energy Plans and Programs)

• Engage with RPSEA/Petrobras– Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America– CENPES – Brazilian oil and gas research organization

• Key Program Development challenges– Time/funding for focused program development– Cost share requirements difficult for academia (DOE solicitations)

Program Development Opportunities

• Software Partner: ETAP• Partner/cost share for DOE proposal

– Collaboration with Mississippi State University’s supercomputing researchers

– Develop advanced power system simulation and data management tools

– Leveraging CEMSolver to develop tools to model and manage nationwide power transmission and distribution system

• Looking for other collaboration activities

Program Development Opportunities

• Software partner: PowerAnalytics • Paladin DesignBase Software

– Electric power system modeling and monitoring tool– Low cost, 1-year lease to explore research opportunities– Negotiating long-term access to support program development

(1% share on research funding) for future activities• Press Release: Modeling and Simulation Roadmap to

Enhance Electrical Energy Security of U.S. Naval Bases– “Used as a reference in selecting Paladin software for the U.S.

Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) System Simulation and Development Directorate (SSDD) laboratory”

Summary• CEM is uniquely positioned to support the coming changes in

the US electric power system– Technologies, modeling and simulation, controls

• CEM is effectively leveraging prior research expertise and current research activities to expand the Grid Solutions Program– Electric ship program leading to new projects

• CEM is developing a potentially game changing external solver for power system simulations– Enhanced performance for power system simulation tool used

throughout industry, government, and academia• CEM is actively seeking to develop new partners and expand

into new applications in microgrid power systems

Questions?

John HerbstProgram Manager

The University of Texas Center for Electromechanicsj.herbst@cem.utexas.edu

www.utexas.edu/research/cem/